Cotinus plant named ‘Old Fashioned’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cotinus coggygria  named ‘Old Fashioned’ that is distinguishable from all other varieties of  Cotinus  by its medium green foliage topped by the contrasting greyed-purple of the younger emerging leaves.

Genus: Cotinus.

Species: coggygria.

Denomination: ‘Old Fashioned’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of SmokeBush known botanically as Cotinus coggygria and referred to hereinafterby the cultivar name ‘Old Fashioned’.

‘Old Fashioned’ was discovered by the inventor in a cultivated area ofBoskoop, The Netherlands in 1989. The inventor selected ‘Old Fashioned’as a single-seedling which was growing in a bed of seedlings of Cotinuscoggygria which the inventor had raised from seed collected by theinventor from plants grown at the inventor's nursery.

Cotinus coggygria is a deciduous shrub that is used in the landscape.‘Old Fashioned’ is distinguished from all other existing varieties ofCotinus coggygria known to the inventor by its mature blue-green leavescontrasted with the young emerging leaves which are greyed-purple incolor and which first attracted the inventor as a novel characteristic.This growth coloration continues through the summer before becomingdeciduous as winter approaches. The inventor considered that ‘OldFashioned’ was further distinguished by the large size and pronouncedroundness of its foliage compared to other varieties of Cotinus known tothe inventor. ‘Old Fashioned’ blooms in the early summer although theyellow green flowers are of limited interest and lasting only a fewdays.

The first asexual propagation was carried out by the inventor in thesummer of 1990 at the inventor's nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands,using softwood cuttings. Since that time under careful observation, ‘OldFashioned’ has been determined stable, uniform, and reproduces true totype in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics represent the distinguishing traits of thenew variety of Cotinus coggygria named ‘Old Fashioned’.

-   -   1. The mature foliage of ‘Old Fashioned’ in spring and summer is        blue-green.    -   2. The young emerging foliage of ‘Old Fashioned’ is a        contrasting greyed-purple.    -   3. The leaves of ‘Old Fashioned’ are large and rounded.    -   4. ‘Old Fashioned’ blooms in the summer for a brief period and        the flowers are yellow-green.    -   5. ‘Old Fashioned’ is deciduous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows a whole plant of ‘Old Fashioned’ growing in the ground atthe inventor's nursery, Boskoop, Then Netherlands. The plants shown issix years old and was photographed in June 2006.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the current year's new foliage growth onthe plant depicted in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also shows the inflorescence of‘Old Fashioned’ which appears briefly in late spring.

The prints are made using conventional photographic techniques andalthough foliage colors in photographs may appear different from actualcolors due to light reflectance, they are as accurate as possible byconventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new cultivar ofCotinus, named ‘Old Fashioned’. Observations, measurements, values, andcomparisons were collected in Boskoop, The Netherlands in spring andsummer 2006 from six year old plants grown in a field. The new Cotinuscoggygria plant has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in the environmentsuch as temperature and light level, without, however, any variance ingenotype. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used. The growing requirements are similar to thespecies and no growing problems have been observed.

-   Botanical classification: Cotinus coggygria ‘Old Fashioned’.-   Common name: Smoke Bush.-   Parentage: A seedling selection of Cotinus coggygria (not patented).-   Propagation: Tissue culture and cuttings.-   Type: Large deciduous shrub or small deciduous tree.-   Use: Specimen plant.-   Plant dimensions: 2 m in height and 1.5 m in width.-   Shape: Irregular broad inverted triangle.-   Growth habit: Broad upright.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Seasonal interest: Spring, summer and fall foliage color.-   Special needs: None observed.-   High temperature tolerance: At least tolerant of temperatures of 35°    C.-   Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to USDA Zone 5.-   Disease resistance and/or susceptibility: Not more resistant or    susceptible to pests and diseases than other Cotinus coggygria    varieties.-   Soil types: Prefers dry or well-drained soils.-   Light levels: Full sun.-   Branching habit: Free branching.-   Basal branching: Occasionally.-   Number of lateral branches: Very many: in excess of 100.-   Lateral branch dimensions: 30 cm in length and 6 mm in diameter.-   Internode length: 0.9 cm.-   Flowering season: Early summer.-   Root system: Fine, spreading.-   Cropping time: 12 weeks for a cutting to develop roots and 3 years    to flower or finish in a 10 liter container or in the field.-   Stem:    -   -   Dimensions.—1.5 m in length and 5 cm-8 cm in diameter.        -   Appearance.—Smooth, slightly glossy.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Current year's growth.—Ranges from 143C to 144A.        -   Previous year's growth (bark present).—N199A, N199C, both            present.        -   Pubescence.—None.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—An average of 31.        -   Leaves.—Dimensions: An average of 8.9 cm in length and 7.0            cm in width. Shape: Orbicular. Margin: Entire, slightly            undulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Obtuse. Texture: Smooth,            dull. Pubescence: Main and secondary veins sparsely covered            with very short (an average of 0.5 mm) whitish green hairs            too small to be color matched. Color of immature leaves            (adaxial and abaxial surfaces): Ranges between 185C and 185D            gradually replaced by 139C in veins, midrib and base as leaf            ages. Color of mature leaves (adaxial): 119B. Color of            mature leaves (abaxial): 139C. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Vein color of immature leaves (both surfaces): 139C. Vein            color of mature leaves (both surfaces): 119C or slightly            lighter than leaf color except midrib may sustain 185C until            leaf fully mature. Durability to stress: High.        -   Petioles.—Dimension: An average of 4.1 mm in length and 1.5            mm in diameter. Color: Petiole color changes as leaf ages:            Immature leaves (abaxial and adaxial surfaces): 139C.            Recently matured leaves (abaxial and adaxial surfaces):            185C. Fully mature leaves (abaxial and adaxial surfaces):            119C.        -   Foliage fragrance.—Fresh and lemon-like.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal panicle.        -   Inflorescence type.—Panicle.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—An average of 23.5 cm in height            and 15.9 cm in width.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence/lateral stem.—An            average of 275.        -   Quantity of flowers per plant.—An average of 8000.        -   Flower type or form.—Single.        -   Flower habit.—Once a year in late spring.        -   Natural flower season.—Late spring, June.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Approximately 75% of the flowers            open at the same time.        -   Lastingness of flowers on plant.—An average of 3 to 4 days.        -   Lastingness of flowers off plant.—Not applicable.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flower.—Bud dimensions: An average of 1.5 mm in length and 1            mm in diameter. Bud shape: Oblong. Bud color: 150B. Rate of            opening: Flower opens approximately 2 days after stage            described. Dimensions: An average of 5 mm in diameter and 2            mm in depth. Aspect: Towards all directions. Shape: Rotate.        -   Petal.—Dimensions: An average of 2 mm in length and 1.5 mm            in width. Appearance: Dull, smooth. Texture: Smooth.            Arrangement: Rotate. Number: An average of 5. Fused or            unfused: Unfused. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Tip: Acute.            Base: Cuneate. Petal color (adaxial and abaxial surfaces):            150C fading to 150D. Petaloids: None.        -   Sepal.—Dimensions: An average of 1.8 mm in length and 1 mm            in width. Appearance: Smooth, dull. Arrangement: Rotate.            Number: An average of 5. Shape: Ovate, lower 40% fused.            Margin: Entire. Tip: Acute. Base: Cuneate (fused). Color            (immature, adaxial and abaxial sides): 144B and 144C. Color            (mature, adaxial side): 144B. Color (mature, abaxial side):            144A.        -   Calyx.—Dimensions: An average of 1 mm in length and 3 mm in            diameter. Shape: Campanulate.        -   Peduncle.—Dimensions: An average of 19.7 cm in length and            2.5 mm in diameter. Angle: Average of 0° (straight on top of            lateral branch). Strength: Strong. Color: 138A.        -   Pedicels.—Types: Two types of pedicels are present. One type            bears flowers; the other develops silky hairs. Dimensions            (flowered pedicel): An average of 1.5 cm in length and 5 mm            in diameter. Dimensions (flowerless pedicel): An average of            5 mm in length and 5 mm in diameter. Angle: Average of 45°            away from the apical direction of the stem. Strength:            Moderate. Color (flower pedicel): 144 A and 144B sparsely            covered with short (average 0.8 mm) hairs colored N186C.            Color (flowerless-pedicel): 144A to N186C densely covered            with short (average 0.8 mm) hairs colored N186C.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamen number: An average of 5. Anther            shape and length: Kidney-shaped and an average of 0.3 mm in            length. Filament length: An average of 1.2 mm. Anther color:            15A. Pollen amount: Low. Pollen color: 15A. Pistil number:            An average of 1. Pistil length: An average of 0.2 mm. Stigma            shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: 144B. Style length: An            average of 0.1 mm. Style color: 144B. Ovary color: 144B.        -   Fruits and seeds.—Quantity of fruit per lateral branch: An            average of 275. Quantity of fruit per plant: An average            of 8000. Fruit length: An average of 4 mm. Fruit diameter:            An average of 4 mm. Fruit is flattened, average diameter at            its flattest is 2 mm. Fruit color: Between 166A and 200B.            Fruit texture: Smooth, glossy. Number of seeds per fruit: An            average of 1. Seed dimensions: An average of 2 mm in length            and 1 mm in diameter. Seed color: N200A.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cotinus coggygria plant named ‘OldFashioned’ as described and illustrated.